CHAPTER LX.
AN ATTACK AGAINST GUNNAR AGREED ON.
They rode three together, Gunnar and his brothers. Gunnar had the bill and his sword, Oliver's gift; but Kolskegg had his short sword; Hjort, too, had proper weapons.
Now they rode to Tongue, and Asgrim gave them a hearty welcome, and they were there some while. At last they gave it out that they meant to go home there and then. Asgrim gave them good gifts, and offered to ride east with them, but Gunnar said there was no need of any such thing; and so he did not go.
Sigurd Swinehead was the name of a man who dwelt by Thurso water. He came to the farm under the Threecorner, for he had given his word to keep watch on Gunnar's doings, and so he went and told them of his journey home; "and," quoth he, "there could never be a finer chance than just now, when he has only two men with him".
"How many men shall we need to have to lie in wait for him?" says Starkad.
"Weak men shall be as nothing before him," he says; "and it is not safe to have fewer than thirty men."
"Where shall we lie in wait?"
"By Knafahills," he says; "there he will not see us before he comes on us."
"Go thou to Sandgil and tell Egil that fifteen of them must busk themselves thence, and now other fifteen will go hence to Knafahills."